Get ready to ramble for this year’s special edition of ‘Beating the Bounds’

Ste Lingard (second left) and St Helens Town FC representative, John McKiernan (second right), were on hand to collect a rugby ball and football which will both be used as part of this year’s Beating the Bounds from Saints stars Zeb Taia (end left) and Mark Percival (end right) before a recent Saints home fixture

Residents are encouraged to put their best foot forward for charity this May by taking part in a walking challenge around the whole of the borough to celebrate 150 years of St Helens becoming an independent borough.

On the back of last year’s successful event, local history enthusiast Ste Lingard is incorporating the Anglo-Saxon tradition of ‘Breaking the Bounds’ to the St Helens 150 events calendar.

The event – which starts and finishes at Haydock Racecourse – entails a 42.5 mile walk around the borough, taking in picturesque scenery such as Billinge Hill, Sidings Lane Nature Reserve – and the Nine Arches Bridge by Sankey Canal.

Those interested in participating in the walk are welcome for the whole route, which will take around 16 hours to complete, or any part of it.

Ste Lingard, organiser of Beating the Bounds, said: “This walk is unique as it links all outside the centre that isn’t usually the focus for borough events. It goes largely through countryside and gives some cracking views – you may be surprised. I’m really pleased that it is part of St Helens 150, and I’m looking forward to a great day.”

Encouraging communities to come together to take part in this special edition of Beating the Bounds, St Helens Council’s Assistant Director for Vision and Change, Sarah Bullock, who is over the St Helens 150 events programme for the council, said:

“The 2018 version of Beating the Bounds St Helens promises to be a memorable occasion and I for one am very much looking forward to it.

“Hopefully we’ll have the weather on our side on the day, as Sundays seem to be traditional for a lot of people to go on treks -which are an excellent way of improving health and wellbeing – so why not join us in exploring the wonderful sights our borough has to offer.”

Beating the Bounds will take place on Sunday 13 May, starting at 4:15am and finishing at 8:15pm.

The route is gently undulating, except for a section around Billinge which involves climbing Billinge Hill – and some sections are on footpaths and trails that are not suitable for prams, pushchairs or wheelchairs.

It is a free event to participate in, but walkers are encouraged to treat it as a sponsored walk by raising money for the mayor’s charity, St Helens Mind – or indeed any other charities that may be close to their heart.

Beating the Bounds will be split into nine sections and during each section a rugby ball, donated by St Helens RFC, and a football, donated by St Helens Town FC, will be passed from one walker to another.